City of a Thousand Dolls
Author: Miriam Forster
Hardcover: 359 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Reading Level: 13+
Summary:The girl with no past, and no future, may be the only one who can save their lives.
Nisha was abandoned at the gates of the City of a Thousand Dolls when she was just a little girl. Now sixteen, she lives on the grounds of the isolated estate, where orphan girls apprentice as musicians, healers, courtesans, and, if the rumors are true, assassins. She makes her way as Matron's errand girl, her closest companions the mysterious cats that trail her shadow. Only when she begins a forbidden flirtation with the city's handsome young courier does she let herself imagine a life outside the walls. Until one by one, girls around her start to die.
Before she becomes the next victim, Nisha decides to uncover the secrets that surround the girls' deaths. But by getting involved, Nisha jeopardizes not only her own future in the City of a Thousand Dolls—but also her life.
Review:
When I first heard about this book, I knew I had to get it.
The concept of a City of a Thousand Dolls is amazing.
The City of a Thousand Dolls is divide up into six Houses: The House of Beauty, The House of Pleasure, The House of Jade, the House of Combat, The House of Shadows (while being hidden), and the House of Flowers.
In each house has a group of girls trained to that main House while going to other Houses. In each House, the girls all wear the same colored asars (I like to think of them of like Indian dresses).
City of a Thousand Dolls follows a young girl, Nisha Arvi, who is in the House of Combat. She is in a current relationship with nobleman Devan, and they are keeping it a secret. In the middle of them being together, they heard a scream and the result of one of the House girls, named Atiy, dead.
Since then, Nisha has been told to investigate the other current deaths that surrounds the City of a Thousand Dolls because if more girls continue to die, then the City of a Thousand Dolls will fall.
There are many things that I enjoyed about the City of a Thousand Dolls. The first is that this is a City meant only for girls, and that each girl is placed in a House that they are more talented in. They can also join other Houses and take part of their lessons.
What I also liked about this book is the mystery that surrounds on who the killer is. I had a few ideas of who it could be, but then it turned out, in the end, it was someone else completely. Either it's just me and my lack of detective intelligence, I always tend to get the killer wrong until it smacks me in the face in the end. Now, some readers would have been able to tell who the killer was beforehand. I, on the other hand, was not.
It's one of these things that I don't like about this book, and many other books: the main character does not know who she is, but everyone else does and is keeping it a secret. But then someone comes by and they reveal her secret and main characters is all surprised and angry and scared that everyone knows what she is and never told her. It's always this response: "I wanted to wait until you were older to understand." Pah!
And with the City of a Thousand Dolls, it happens here. But of course, with this, I was surprised to know what Nisha was actually was.
The cats.
The cats were so adorable in this book. Following, protecting and communicating (telepathically) to Nisha. The cats are like Nisha's own family. My favorite cat is Esmer and Jerrit.
The world building in the City of a Thousand Dolls is amazing. Well-written and structured. Miriam Forster provides enough information about the City of Dolls and it's history without having the reader become too overwhelmed and confused if she just gave us a big info dump on the first few pages. It would seem as if the City of a Thousand Dolls would be a fantastic place to live in. But the thing is-it is a place of all females. The males and females are separated unless they are nobles and royalty.
City of a Thousand Dolls is a very well-written book.
Conclusion:
If I had to chose a House in the City of a Thousand Dolls, I would want the House of Shadows, the House of Music, the House of Jade, and the House of Flowers. Sadly, I cannot chose all of those--so I would out of all of those mentioned: The House of Shadows. I mean, it's not everyday one can train in the shadows and become a ninja (an assassin, really).
City of a Thousand Dolls provides fantasy, murder mystery, family, and a bit of romance. The pacing for me, throughout the story is sort of slow, but it picks up, and slow downs again, and picks back up. It fluctuates throughout the novel.
Miriam Forster made an amazing fantasy novel albeit her debut. I would recommed this book, definitely.
City of a Thousand Dolls deserves a 4.7/5
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